Terry Denton (1950-2026)

“Dad gave joy to millions of children around the world and after all those stories and all those lives he touched, he always came home to us. We are so grateful that his stories will continue to live on, bringing wonder, laughter and comfort to generations yet to come – and most especially to his beloved grandchildren, who will grow up knowing him through the magic he left behind.”

For this blog post tribute to Terry Denton I am going to focus on his older titles. I am sure others will talk about more recent ones such as Jandamarra; Moonwalkers; all those Treehouse stories written with Andy Griffiths and Can you teach a fish to climb a tree (2024). 

Make sure you take a look at paintings by Terry Denton from his web page - such an amazing talent. 

Think about some of the big names that had their work illustrated by Terry Denton - Mem Fox, Margaret Wild, Andy Griffiths, Paul Jennings, Gillian Rubinstein, Morris Lurie, Andrew Daddo, Ursula Duobsarsky, Michael Wagner, Mark Greenwood, Jane Godwin, Mike Dumbleton, Natalie Jane Prior, Richard Tulloch, Phillip Gwynne, Jenny Wagner, Margaret Clark, Justin D'Ath, Doug McLeod, Max Dann, Pamela Shrapnel, Victor Kelleher, Bill Condon, Robin Klein, Jackie French, Ted Greenwood, Dianne Bates, and Moya Simons. (source Trove)

My own favourite book illustrated by Terry Denton is Felix and Alexander - 1986 CBCA Picture Book of Year winner:

Felix and Alexander

The perfect book to share with your preschool or Kindergarten child is Ducky's Nest:

Here is my 2015 post about Ducky's Nest

About Night Noises Kirkus said: A compassionate portrait of old age, memorably extended in Denton's sharply observed pen and colored, pencil illustrations, which use frames for the three parallel stories of events in the past, outside, and by the fire.

I remember having this sweet anthology in one of my former school libraries:

You can see an original image from this book held by the NGV 

Meannie and the Min Min is a fabulous short chapter book - perfect to read aloud in a family or to a class of Grade Three children. If you can find it Max Gillies made a wonderful audio book recording of this story (on a cassette tape).

Meannie and the Min Min

Freddie the Frightened and the wondrous Ms Wardrobe

In one of my early school libraries I had a copy of The Story of Imelda who used to be small - this is the book I keep on my 'to find list' - it was such a charming story by Maurice Lurie.

Here are a couple of other picture books:

CBCA award mentions 

• Younger Readers 1995 short list Duck for Cover; 
• Younger Readers 2007 short list The Cat on the Mat is Flat; 
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• Early Childhood 2002 short list Passing On; 
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• Picture Book of the Year 1986 winner Felix and Alexander; 
• Picture Book of the Year 1994 Honour Book The Paw; 
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• Eve Pownall Award 2011 short list Wicked Warriors and Evil Emperors;
• Eve Pownall 2014 short list Jandamarra.

Meet the illustrator Melissa Sweet

All of my work is done by hand. I’ve never mastered the computer for making art. The computer gives me too many choices and I’m always looking to narrow down the decisions. Working this way is slower, but it also allows for serendipity and being surprised by what’s happening in the process.

Melissa Sweet is an American author and illustrator of children’s books acclaimed for her vibrant mixed-media collage style combining watercolor, gouache, found objects, and layered textures. She has illustrated over 100 titles, including Caldecott Honor books A River of Words and The Right Word with Jen Bryant, and authored award-winning works such as Balloons Over Broadway and Some Writer!. Her art is entirely handcrafted, often based on extensive research and primary sources, and has earned her honors like the Sibert Medal, Orbis Pictus Award, Eric Carle Honors, and the Society of Illustrators’ Lifetime Achievement Award. Wikipedia

Image source: Maine Public Library

I’ve always been a forager and collector of tiny weird things (desiccated amphibians, buttons, rusty bottle caps). But a number of years ago I was saving some unsuccessful watercolors that I cut up and used in another painting. From there, adding other collaged elements to my paintings gave the art a freshness, making it less precious and more fun to make. Often our eyes will go the collaged elements and that difference gives the piece some visual tension. 

Here is a link to more images of work by Melissa Sweet

Take a look at all these Kirkus Star reviews and here is their interview from 2013. You can also see her work on Facebook and Instagram. 

I previously talked about these books illustrated by Melissa Sweet:

The right word

Some Writer!

How to write a poem

Cricket in the thicket

Charlotte in London

Baabwaa & Wooliam

Carmine A little more red

My friends and I spied this book in a local public library recently - perfect book for the 2026 CBCA slogan Symphony of Stories.

Read more here

I am also very keen to find these:

Alpha Maniacs Sweet’s illustrations accompanying each three- to five-page profile provide a beautiful pacing and design for the book, with precisely detailed backgrounds that often incorporate lined paper; maps and diagrams and cartoon interpretations that are both amusing and elucidating; and splashes of her signature warm reds and pinks that energize here and calm there. Kirkus Star review

Goldfinches: Using vintage papers, old maps, and photographed objects including a nest, the artist subdivides her layered compositions into multiple rectangles, inviting close observation and delighted discovery, while reserving plenty of airy space for Oliver’s poem to shine. Kirkus Star review

Seven Impossible Things talked to Melissa Sweet back in 2010: Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Melissa Sweet.

Perhaps you have seen some of these in your local or school library:

There is an UK mum on Instagram who posts a vintage children's picture book each day - she argues modern books are often not of the same quality and that our children and students should be exposed to 'better' titles. I do like some of the books she shares but I disagree that all recent kids books are of a lesser value. I wonder if she has seen the work of my illustrator today - Melissa Sweet. Here are a few of her recommendations. She has shared over 140 titles, and Jenny has the list of her first 100 titles for sale on her webpage:

Follow Your Nose Paul Showers, illustrated by Paul Galdone 1963

The Hidden House by Martin Waddell illus Angela Barrett, Walker Books, 1990

The Sandman Udo Weigelt, illustrated by Sibylle Heusser, 1993 German, 2003 English

The Mirrorstone by Michael Palin Illus by Alan Lee Holographic Images by Richard Seymour 1986

The Moon’s Revenge by Joan Aiken Illustrated by Alan Lee 1987

Good Night, Owl! by Pat Hutchins 1973

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion illus. Margaret Bloy Graham 1954

Joseph’s Yard by Charles Keeping 1969 (I have read this one to hundreds of students)

The Elephant and The Bad Baby by Elfrida Vipont Illustrated by Raymond Briggs 1969

Baba Yaga and the Wise Doll by Hiawyn Oram illustrated by Ruth Brown 1995

Borka by John Burningham 1962

The Tough Princess by Martin Waddell illustrated by Patrick Benson 1987

Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas illustrated by Korky Paul 1987

A Dark, Dark Tale by Ruth Brown 1981

Can’t You Sleep Little Bear? by Martin Waddell illustrated by Barbara Firth 1988

Feather by Cao Wenxuan (translation by Chloe Garcia Roberts) Illustrated by Roger Mello

Tusk Tusk by David McKee 1978

Catkin by Antonia Barber illustrated by P. J. Lynch 1994

Maggie and the Pirate by Ezra Jack Keats 1979

Meet the illustrator Clotilde Perrin

Last weekend I visited one of our independent bookstores here in Sydney - The Constant Reader. How lucky are we to have a shop like this - with one whole store just for kids! One of the staff showed me a few of her new discoveries and among them were several books by Clotilde Perrin - we both gushed over the fabulous books available from Gecko Press and talked about how wonderful that they translate books from around the world into English for our readers. (Scroll down on this link to see her Gecko Press titles). The bookseller especially loves the delightfully named book The Kerfuffle. I have added it to my Pinterest of books that feature walls. 

Here is a quote from Clotilde Perrin's web page: I was born in the Vosges in France. My father made paper by hand, my mother drew. And in this mountain, you can meet wild beasts as well as imaginary beings. The dark fir trees of the Vosges forests have inspired me more than once. I also have fantastic memories of reading Arnold Lobel's "Porculus," John S. Goodall's "Jacko," Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and Michael Ende's "The Neverending Story." I was also terrified by the monsters of Etienne Delessert and the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. Thus began my journey into images and the desire to share them.

Clotilde Perrin is an illustrator and author living in Strasbourg, France. She has published over 30 books including the international lift-the-flap bestseller Inside the Villains. Here is her Instagram page.

In this interview with Books for Keeps Clotilde talks about her book The Remarkables. 

Two of the books that I saw that 'blew my mind' were these although I am not sure they can really be added to a school library - better as gifts for an individual child:

Bookseller blurb: An extraordinary pop-up book that reveals the secrets of the most famous fairy-tale villains-the giant, the wolf and the witch-with interactive flaps, a twist on well-known tales, and personality cards for each villain. Lift the flaps to see the diabolical thoughts inside the villains' heads, what hides beneath their disguises, or the victims of their last meals (now comfortably settled inside their stomachs!). Read all about each villain on their personality card, which shows strengths and weaknesses, pastimes, physical characteristics, their best meal and-of course-their favorite books. And if the wolf bites your fingers while you're reading, you can always pull his tail... 

Read the Kirkus Star review. This book is huge/tall - you might get a shock when you see it. 

Bookseller blurb: Are you lost? Come in! You’re in luck there’s no one here just now Shhh… Be as quiet as you can, and very, very careful! In The House of Madame M, we explore a strange house: hallway, living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Each room is full of surprises to make even the bravest shiver. Are we in the house of an ogre? A witch? Something else altogether? This visit to Madame M’s brings the thrill of finding what lurks in the wardrobe, behind the door, tucked under the furniture. Full of humour and detail, it will mesmerise readers of all ages. This book has 25 flaps, pull tabs and other secrets hide jokes and spine-shivering surprises.

The most, and best, (pop-up) haunted house in decades. Kirkus Star review

I haven't talked about this book here but I have seen this one from 2014:

A very fine working of story, information, art and culture. Kirkus Star review

Here is a partial book list of titles by Clotilde Perrin (Note some may only be available in French). You can see all the titles here:

Heart of a Witch (November 2026)

Blades of grass (August 2025)

The confusion (April 2025)

Such cute ogrillons (November 2023)

The Remarkables or the most amazing children I have met (October 2023)

Ha! In a monstrous game of hide-and-seek (October 2021)

Inside the suitcase (October 2020)

Madame M’s House (October 2019)

Hurry, hurry, hurry! (October 2019)

Gotcha! – A Funny Fairy Tale Hide-and-Seek

Meet a few illustrators and authors speaking at the IBBY Congress

Natali de Mello

Blurb for When we go Home: Marlee’s parents are excited. "We are going back home!" they tell her and her brother. "Not my home," Marlee says. She knows the island is where her mum and dad grew up, and that she and her brother will get to do lots of fun things when they visit. But she’s never been there. And though her dad says a person can have two home countries, Marlee isn’t sure she believes him. But slowly, the warm welcome from her large, loving family, the coconut water she drinks on the beach and the many other delights she discovers on the island, from pigs on the beach to music at bedtime, help Marlee see that what her dad says is true. (Read the review in Quill and Quire)

Natali de Mello is a Brazilian-Canadian author and illustrator based in Ottawa, creating picture books and visual stories that blend imagination, design, and a touch of humour. I’ve been working in children’s publishing for nearly a decade, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and nature through a mix of traditional and digital media. My background includes an MA in Illustration from Falmouth University, a Certificate in Visual Arts and a BA in Architecture.

I’m the author-illustrator of Curious Capybara (Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan, 2026), and the illustrator of When We Go Home (Kids Can Press, 2026), as well as several other titles published with Planète Rebelle and Kata, including Suivez la capitaine fourmi! (2024) and Indrazaal et la quête de l’océan (2023). I’m currently working on new picture books as both author and illustrator, including projects with Planète Rebelle and Heritage. I’m also developing my first middle-grade graphic novel, Lyla and the Squirrels, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council—a story about curiosity, friendship, and small rebellions. Here is her Instagram page.

Sadé Smith

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Sadé Smith is the Canadian children's book author of Granny's Kitchen which was nominated for the Blue Spruce Award for the Forest of Reading 2023 and shortlisted for the 2023 Crystal Kite Award. She is of Jamaican descent and her books often involve food and recipes with colorful illustrations to capture the vibrancy and beauty of the Caribbean islands. 

Granny’s Kitchen is her debut children’s picture book illustrated by Ken Daley. Her second book Julie and the Mango Tree illustrated by Sayada Ramdial has been selected for the CBC Books list of 40 Canadian kids books to read in spring 2023 and the Barnes & Noble’s list of Most Anticipated Kids’ Books for August 2023. It has also been selected for the 2025 TD Summer Reading Club.

 Jean-François Sénéchal

Here is the Kirkus review of I will not be Scared

 

Here is the Kirkus Star review

The son of two teachers, Jean-François Sénéchal was born surrounded by books. After studying anthropology and writing a few texts on Haiti, he returned to his first love and devoted himself to literature. He was a frequent finalist for the Prix Jeunesse des libraires du Québec (Quebec Booksellers’ Youth Prize), which he won with Au carrefour (At the Crossroads). For this novel, as well as for Feu (Fire), he was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Awards. He was also a finalist for the Prix du livre jeunesse des Bibliothèques de Montréal (Montreal Libraries’ Youth Book Prize) and the winner of the Prix Adolecteurs (Adolescent Readers’ Prize) and the Prix Bernadette-Renaud (Bernadette Renaud Prize) for Le boulevard (The Boulevard), which was included on the 2018 Honour List of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Jean-François Sénéchal received the 2017 Joseph S. Stauffer Award for Literature from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Meet the illustrator Giles Laroche

Giles creates his award-winning books with paper collages in a process that is truly amazing. He starts with a sketch and then cuts, paints, and glues, to create illustrations that have as many as 7 or 8 layers. He adds spacers (small pieces of cardboard) to give his collages even more depth. Giles calls his technique “paper relief”.

Page from Extreme Places: The most remote homes on Earth

My friend saw the book Extreme Places (cover below) on our recent visit to Gleebooks (a wonderful independent bookstore in Sydney), and she exclaimed because she really loves art by Giles Laroche.

Bookseller blurb for Extreme Places: Journey around the world to some of the most challenging and remote spots on Earth in this stunningly illustrated book that celebrates human ingenuity, community, and the people who call these places home. Would you be lonely living atop a steep, snowbound mountain or bored in a tiny island village Could you find your way home through a dense jungle or a blinding desert sandstorm Our planet has many places where everyday life is made difficult by severe climates, isolation, or natural forces such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Yet in these secluded locations, families learn how to band together and rely on each other, and this spirit of teamwork helps to sustain extreme living. Master of cut-paper collage artwork Giles Laroche transports readers to the world's most extreme places through his exquisite illustrations and succinct explorations of what it takes to survive and thrive there.

Kirkus said: A brilliant and informative introduction to humans’ architectural and social adaptability.

The Giles Laroche book What's Inside: Fascinating Structures Around the World has a fabulous picture of the inside of our Sydney Opera House. It also has: Tomb of Tutankhamun in Thebes, Egypt The Parthenon in Athens, Greece Temple of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza, Mexico Buddha's Place in Shanxi Province, China Walled city of Toledo in Spain Alcazar Castle in Segovia, Spain Independence Hall in Philadelphia Shaker dairy barn in Hancock, MA A Circus big top tent, which traveled to many American cities The Guggenheim Museum in NYC The Petrona Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The Georgia Aquarium in Georgia, Atlanta.

I went hunting for other books and more details about this US illustrator. He has a book from 1998 called Bridges are to Cross - I would love to see that one too. Kirkus said: (Bridges are to Cross) will open young eyes to the marvels of bridge-building and carry readers to a whole wide world of wonder.

Here is a list of his books (this is not up to date)

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY GILES LAROCHE

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, available October 25, 2011

What's Inside? Fascinating Structures Around the World, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009

ILLUSTRATED BY GILES LAROCHE

Now You See Them, Now You Don't: Poems About Animals That Hide, by David Harrison Charlesbridge 2016

What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006

Down To The Sea In Ships, by Philemon Sturges, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2005

Who sees the Lighthouse? by Ann Fearrington, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2002

Sacred Places, by Philemon Sturges, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2000

Bridges Are To Cross, by Philemon Sturges, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1998

The Color Box, by Dayle Ann Dodds, Little, Brown & Co., 1992

A Road Might Lead To Anywhere, by Rachel Field, Little Brown & Co., 1990

General Store, by Rachel Field, Little, Brown & Co., 1988

Sing a Song of People, by Lois Lenski, Little, Brown & Co., 1987

Here is a page from Who Sees the Lighthouse:

Image source: Giles Laroche

If you want to explore other illustrators who use paper techniques you might look for David Miller (Australia); Robert Sabuda; Clover Robin; the amazing book The Story of Snowflake and Inkdrop; and Susan Roth just to name a few. 

Image source: Gallerix (see more pages inside this book)

The ABC Book of Lullabies

This is an old book from 2008 but what I love about books like this is the way they allow you to explore a range of illustrators - in this case illustrators from Australia:

Tamsin Ainslie, Jonathan Bentley, Gaye Chapman, Janine Dawson, Wayne Harris, Ann James, Stephen Michael King, Alison Lester, Caroline Magerl, Kilmeny Niland, Anna Pignataro, Cheryl Orsini, and Emma Quay. 

The cover art is by Emma Quay:

Here is the illustration from Stephen Michael King:

Illustration by Stephen Michael King for Golden Slumbers

I wonder who selected the illustrators to include in this book? I wonder if they were able to select their lullaby to illustrate? I did enjoy reading the end notes where each illustrator talks each specific lullaby. The ABC of the title refers to the publisher's name and not the organisation of the lullabies.

Books like The ABC Book of Lullabies are produced for two audiences simultaneously: the child who focuses on the images as the words are read to them and the adult (usually) who is reading. Each will take different things from the reading. An adult may well be interested in the differences between the images and the differing styles of each illustrator. Short bios, including sketches and photos are included in the final pages for those readers. Each illustrator shares a little about what they do and why, and why they’ve chosen the particular lullaby. Children will enjoy this collection whatever time they read or are read to, but it does make a lovely bedtime collection. For adults, The ABC Book of Lullabies is a bit like a sampler, introducing the work of some of Australia’s most talented illustrators. Or perhaps an illustrators’ version of an anthology. Aussie Reviews

If you have this book in your library and you have a small display space you could copy the pages from this book as a way to explore the CBCA 2026 slogan "Symphony of Stories". Lullabies are often examples of simple stories and hopefully also of familiar stories.

Here are a couple of examples:

Rock-a-bye Baby

Rock-a-bye, baby, in the treetop,

When the wind blows the cradle will rock;

When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all.

Baby is drowsing, cosy and fair.

Mother sits near, in her rocking chair.

Forward and back the cradle she swings,

And though baby sleeps, he hears what she sings.

From the high rooftops down to the sea,

No one's as dear as baby to me.

Wee little fingers, eyes wide and bright --

Now sound asleep until morning light.

Hush Little Baby

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,

Mama's going to buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird don't sing,

Mama's going to buy you a diamond ring.

And if that diamond ring turns brass,

Mama's going to buy you a looking glass.

And if that looking glass gets broke,

Mama's going to buy you a billy goat.

And if that billy goat won't pull,

Mama's going to buy you a cart and bull.

And if that cart and bull turn over,

Mama's going to buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won't bark,

Mama's going to buy you a horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,

You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

I imagine most of these names are very familiar to you. There was only one illustrator that I had not heard of - or perhaps I knew the books but not their names? - Janine Dawson is the illustrator of Pudding and Chips; Bobbie Dazzler and Junkyard Dogs. She also did illustrations for the Aussie Nibble Pippa's Perfect Picnic and the covers of the Lily Quench series. 

Here is one book from each of the illustrators who have work in this book. In most cases you can pop a title into my search bar to read more: